Sound & Video Contractor - July 2021

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J U LY 2 0 2 1 / / V O L U M E 3 9 / / I S S U E 7

SOUND&VIDEO

CONTRACTOR

R E V I E W S | T E C H N O LO GY | A P P L I C AT I O N S PRODUCT-AT-WORK HIGH IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE DIGITAL SIGNAGE SAVES THE RODEO TECH SHOWCASES * INSTALLED SPEAKERS * POWER AMPLIFIERS

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FEATURES

6 | O n the Circuit

28 | Grace Under Pressure: Digital

Case Studies

By Chief Editor Cynthia Wisehart

Signage Saves the Rodeo

When the iconic San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo had to downsize their 2021 event to a smaller arena, AV pros had to quickly build a permanent arena-wide signage system to support the advertising that supports the show.

Supplement

33 | High Impact Video Display From Air Force simulators to large format immersive art, video display becomes more relevant to life, work, and entertainment all the time.

22 14

8 | AVoIP: Signage Over IP 10 | QSRs: Decision Displays 12 | Control System: One Touch Control Tech Showcases

14 | Installed Speakers 22 | Power Amplifiers

Sound & Video Contractor, Volume 39, Issue 7, (ISSN 0741-1715) is published monthly by Future US, Inc., 11 West 42nd Street, 15th floor, New York, NY 10036.

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Sound & Video Contractor, PO Box 1051, Lowell, MA 01853. Canada Post International Publications Mail (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 40612608. Canada return address: Pitney Bowes International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2. ©2021 Future US, Inc.

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on the circuit

Volume 39 Issue 7

July 2021

WWW.SVCONLINE.COM

I

By Cynthia Wisehart

Find me online cynthia.wisehart@ futurenet.com www.svconline.com/proavtoday and www.rebelmouse.com/ SVC_Online

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remember when Dante AV was announced at what we called a trade show. Long ago, in the before times BC, your may remember that the tribes used to gather from across the county and the world into air-conditioned palaces where we crowded tightly together wearing amulets around our necks and traded amongst ourselves in cards, information, trinkets, and QR codes.

I can still remember where I was standing on one such trading floor when I first heard tell of Dante AV. It was just two years ago, but 2019 seems like forever ago now.

Dante AV is Audinate’s take on 1G integrated audio and video networking, drafting off of Dante’s transformative effect on audio networking. Dante AV (JPEG2000 4K@60 4:4:4) was designed to solve the problem of networked video and audio sync with a single network clock for signals that remained independently routable via the Dante Controller software. The idea was to take advantage of the large installed base of 2000 Dante-enabled audio products to solve time alignment issues and eliminate the need for audio de-embedders.

That was the case at the time. Since then, and with the proliferation of hybrid everything, Dante AV has even broader aspirations, like everybody does. This is reflected in the first two products to come to market Dante AV-enabled—a series of encoder/decoders and a PTZ camera.

At the time of the Dante AV debut, Audinate announced that the new Dante AV Module and the Dante AV Product Design Suite were commercially available for order by manufacturers, along with an API. The company shared that Patton Electronics, a US manufacturer and OEM/ODM supplier of networking and connectivity solutions for Pro AV and telephony, would adopt the platform into a new generation of AV-Over-IP products.

Patton was a tangential but familiar name to some—the company had taken on the FiberPlex (aka LightViper) brand in 2017. The company specializes in UC, network, and cloud. Now, as announced in June, Patton’s first Dante AV products are shipping—the FPX6000 series of encoders and decoders.

With the June announcement, Audinate also debuted a second product partner, BOLIN Technology. A leader in the design and manufacture of PTZ cameras (including some for other Pro AV brands) has come to market this month with its new D-series PTZ cameras featuring Dante AV. The D-series is available in both HD and 4K resolutions.

Who will be next to come to market with Dante AV and will it draft on and surpass Dante? Time will tell. I also happen to remember where I was standing—at a trade show—when I was first introduced to a company called Audinate with an audio networking product called Dante and we know where that went.

FOLLOW US @SVC_Online https://www.facebook.com/svconline CONTENT VP/Content Creation Anthony Savona Content Director Cynthia Wisehart, cynthia.wisehart@futurenet.com Contributors Bennett Liles Managing Design Director Nicole Cobban Art Editor Rob Crossland Production Managers Nicole Schilling, Heather Tatrow ADVERTISING SALES VP/Market Expert, AV/Consumer Electronics & Pro Audio Adam Goldstein, adam.goldstein@futurenet.com, 212-378-0465 Sales Janis Crowley, janis.crowley@futurenet.com, 845-414-6791 Debbie Rosenthal, debbie.rosenthal@futurenet.com, 212-378-0465 Zahra Majma, zahra.majma@futurenet.com, 845-678-3752 SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE To subscribe, change your address, or check on your current account status, go to www.mysvcmag. com and click on About Us, email futureplc@ computerfulfillment.com, call 888-266-5828, or write P.O. Box 8608, Lowell, MA 01853.

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the buzz CASE STUDY / AVOIP

SIGNAGE OVER IP Available now, the new IP-based solution is positioned as a way for sports bars, fitness centers, hospitals, and retail establishments to remotely tune and manage their digital displays and content without having to use multiple remote controls or tune individual set-top boxes to TV channels.

Pro:Centric Catena also offers a new, unique benefit for customers: a simple web app that allows patrons to select from the available live TV broadcasting and listen to the audio through their own smartphones and earbuds.

LG Catena uses a unique way to manage lip synch by separating the audio from the video stream on the premises and delivering it to the smartphone independently synchronized with the TV broadcast. from the wire Bars and restaurants can play For more case studies, visit background music while each table svconline.com/the-wire.

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or customer chooses which game or show they want to listen to via their smartphone.

LG Catena also is an ideal solution for gyms, hospitals and transit centers where multiple TVs display various channels, but their sound is muted.

The solution comprises a server and a TV application that is accessed through a webbased user interface, providing control of every display, either individually or in prearranged groups of displays. TVs can be remotely tuned, powered on and off, rebooted and display custom messaging created by the owners. Catena is designed to work exclusively with LG Pro:Centric Smart IP televisions and set-top boxes and supports both High Definition and 4K UHD resolutions. For new installations, using an IP-based design reduces equipment costs by replacing long

HDMI cable runs and video matrices with simple Cat6 cabling, while also eliminating the need for each display to have its own settop box or media player for live TV content delivery.

To provide these new functions to the widest market of business owners, including those using other displays, LG’s Pro:Centric Smart set-top-boxes (STB) support Pro:Centric Catena. This provides a cost-effective path for integrators and end-users to upgrade to the Pro:Centric Catena experience.

Pro:Centric Catena supports cable and satellite box sources as well as commercial videoon-demand services using the Pro:Idiom digital rights management system that provides owners access to premium content and protecting content with an end-to-end digital rights management system.

the buzz CASE STUDY / QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS

DECISION DISPLAYS Quick service restaurants across the country are dedicated to providing valuable, timely, and cost-effective food delivery options for their customers, and Smoothie King is no different. But this QSR chain also prioritizes offering health-centric and tailored smoothie options for their clientele, offerings that change based on the time of year, promotions from corporate headquarters, and the latest healthy trends.

Local owner-operators of Smoothie King franchises have historically relied on using printed menus in lightbox displays — both inside and outside — to present ordering options and deals to customers. But this has proven to be an outdated and ineffective process as updating physical menus can often take weeks; franchise operators must send menu revisions over to corporate so they can make the graphic design changes, and then the menus need to be printed and shipped by a third-party supplier. from the wire Smoothie King was looking for a For more case studies, visit digitized business solution that would svconline.com/the-wire.

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allow the operators to make menu changes without the wait time of going to the franchisor and enable real-time changes to localize their promotions and menu items, as well as upsell high-margin add-ons. This need was expedited by the COVID-19 pandemic as one-on-one sales interactions between employees and customers were largely interrupted.

Smoothie King franchisees turned to Samsung display technology to integrate an updated indoor and outdoor digital signage with remote management capabilities. The turnkey technology solution included indoor digital menu display boards, an outdoor-ready multiscreen setup for drive-thru lanes, and promotional displays in store windows.

Several Smoothie King locations across Florida, Texas, Chicago, Indiana, and Missouri deployed Samsung displays in their stores to maintain a new, successful drive-thru business that jumped up from 70% to 90% of sales during the pandemic.

The Samsung display technology managed

by Washington-state-based digital signage

solutions provider C3MS for immediate content changes, includes a number of display experiences. For example, 49-inch narrowbezel LCD displays sit behind the ordering counters in tiled ribbon arrays, delivering UHD 4K visuals, and using a combination of upscaling, color optimization, and anti-glare technologies for ease of viewing.

A set of three 46-inch outdoor-rated, high-brightness are stationed at the ordering position of the drive-thru. The screens are weatherproof, self-cooling and filter-free, and designed to be visible in even the brightest, sunniest operating conditions. A separate 46-inch “pre-sell” display is positioned earlier in the drive-thru lane to promote new products and special offers.

Samsung’s unique dual-sided, super-bright LCD OMN-D display is set up in a window, running promotions aimed at motorists and pedestrian traffic. On the other side of the window, a second screen faces the inside of the store, visible to customers as they weigh their ordering decisions.

the buzz CASE STUDY / CONTROL SYSTEM

ONE TOUCH CONTROL When medical marijuana was approved in Missouri, the owners of Easy Mountain Cannabis Dispensary near Springfield wanted simple signage and control of their flat screen TVs, audio systems, and web conferencing.

Jeff Johnson with Net Vision Communications suggested Aveo Systems Mira Connect.

A Mira Connect unit – which does not require any programming by installers - has been placed behind the sales counter in the dispensary’s showroom. Owners Alex Paulson and Drew Beine use the unit to handle the source/destination selections for their medicinal menu, including displays such as the 75” flatscreen TV in the showroom as well as other TVs that bring up selected items plus associated music for clients. “Music is tailored to suit the mood and medical needs of each customer,” said Johnson, “and is from the wire routed to various areas of the store For more case studies, visit as needed.” Johnson incorporated svconline.com/the-wire.

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Raspberry Pi units behind the TVs that allow the dispensary staff to easily browse the web and display other information readily via the source selection programming integrated in the Mira Connect. Aveo Systems worked with Johnson to ensure that the proper interfacing to each device was implemented through Mira Portal, the management platform for Mira Connect. “Aveo Systems is fantastic this way,” said Johnson.

Another feature of Mira Connect, the touchless control feature Mira Connect Me, has been a hit with the dispensary owners. “When Alex and Drew come into the store, they scan the QR code on the device and can then control music and video from their respective offices via their phones. It’s also very useful for their patient consultation rooms, where web meetings are set up between clients and physicians,” he said.

Mira Connect is an easy audio-visual touchscreen and control system, which Johnson most

often deploys in conference rooms and corporate settings, but which is equally at home in retail and hospitality. It offers one-touch audio & video dialing; launching of Zoom and other video calls; integration with Office 365 calendar for one-touch dialing of upcoming meetings; volume and muting control (with optional LED lighting bars for a more pronounced visual cue); lighting, display, projector, and camera control; audio and video source selection, TV tuner control, touchless operation, and more. No programming is required.

“The convenience of having one spot to manage all our media, music, and televisions is great,” said Drew Beine of Easy Mountain.

It’s nice to hit one button and have everything turn off on the way out the door. The multiple screens in our offices and the slick installation of different workspaces make our jobs way easier, and the connectedness is streamlined to be easy for anyone to use.”

TECH SHOWCASE

INSTALLED SPEAKERS

By Cynthia Wisehart

As we return to public spaces, installed speakers take on new importance. Here’s a look at some of the options including new releases introduced over the 15 months we’ve been home.

In May, the Adamson IS-Series Weatherized loudspeakers and design tools debuted for the premium installation market. The introduction included an extension to its ISSeries of installation loudspeakers and a suite of improved and updated design tools for architects, integrators, and sound designers. With the introduction of the IS-Series Weatherized line, Adamson offers AV professionals a loudspeaker family purpose-built to withstand the most extreme climates in the world. Weatherized enclosures are ideal for marine and coastal venues, outdoor stadiums, open-air performance spaces, and other permanent outdoor installations. IS-Series Weatherized models achieve an IP55 rating without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.

All structural steel elements of the IS-Series Weatherized cabinets are made of a high yield strength stainless alloy that offers 100% corrosion resistance. The new models also feature

an interior and exterior coating with a distinctive smooth finish that provides a waterresistant seal and allows for easy cleaning and removal of dirt, grime, salt water or sand. To supplement the product release, Adamson is also releasing an update to its suite of design tools for integrators, including new Autodesk Revit and SketchUp libraries for the IS-Series, and updated EASE and CAD files for the complete Adamson loudspeaker line. The design tools are available now for download on the Adamson website at www.adamsonsystems. com.

The AtlasIED IPX Series VoIP speaker is compliant with key Avaya IX Workplace solutions, with powerful capabilities related to calling, collaboration and meetings, as well as a range of flexible, connected phones and devices. Avaya Holdings Corp. is a global leader in solutions that enhance and simplify communications and collaboration. The IPX

Adamson IS-Series Weatherized

Series VoIP speaker helps customers communicate efficiently and effectively for both daily messaging and emergency alerts. Ideal for corporate enterprise customers and those in the transportation, education, and healthcare industries, the IPX Series VoIP-speakers effectively use a facility’s communication system to help maintain a safe work environment. The application is now compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with Avaya IX Workplace Calling components Avaya Aura Communication Manager 8.1 and Avaya Aura Session Manager 8.1.

Ashly Audio IS series dual-impedance column speakers are designed for

AtlasIED IPX Series VoIP

Ashly IS Series

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TECH SHOWCASE Biamp Magic Cable

extreme flexibility for integrators by operating at 8 or 32 Ohms, making them effective for simple applications or allowing larger numbers to be used in distributed installations – up to 32 IS Column speakers can be run off a single Ashly PEMA or CA amplifier. The IS Series is designed for precise vertical dispersion and consistent sound levels front-to-back in virtually any type of venue, including next to flat-screens in conference rooms or houses of worship. The speakers combine with Ashly amps and processors that incorporate Protēa or AquaControl DSP. The SP-12.1P subwoofer provides an extended low end and offers a portable “system-on-a-stick” configuration solution.

In April, Biamp announced that the company has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its Biamp Magic Cable, used in the company’s Desono

family of business audio pendant loudspeakers. Magic Cable comprises two stainless steel suspension cables, two 18 AWG signal conductors within a separate cable jacket, and integrated ripcords that allow the installer to easily slice through the jackets as needed — greatly increasing installation efficiencies. Magic Cable’s patent covers its innovative construction, a sub-cable jacket that encloses the metal support cables, a second sub-cable jacket for the insulated audio cables, the main ripcords, as well as subcables that allow tool-less stripping of each cable jacket. Because of its unique assembly, it also meets the UL 13 Standard for PowerLimited Circuit Cables with a Class 3 indoor/ outdoor rating. With the Class 3 rating, it is “listed for purpose,” meaning there’s no need to seek a waiver if installed at lengths longer than 10 feet (3 meters). The cable is also pre-

dressed in an outer jacket that provides a clean post-installation appearance without the need to smooth out kinks, regardless of ceiling height and/or length of exposed cable. Magic Cable is pre-terminated inside the Desono P6 and P6-SM pendant models to ensure there are no exposed connections at the loudspeaker.

It can also be used with other Desono pendant loudspeakers including the DP6, DP8, P30DT, and P60DT. In late April, Bose Professional added to the DesignMax line with four new pendant loudspeakers—the Bose 30-watt DM3P loudspeakers (75 Hz–20 kHz) and 60-watt DM5P loudspeakers (65 Hz–20 kHz); the 125-watt DM6PE outdoor-rated loudspeaker (62 Hz–20 kHz); and the 300-watt DM10P-SUB subwoofer (40 Hz–125 Hz ). The DM3P, DM5P. and DM6PE pendant loudspeakers all feature the Bose Dispersion Alignment system, provid-

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TECH SHOWCASE

d&b 44s

Bose DesignMax

ing a consistent listening experience throughout the room by matching the coverage of the woofer to the pattern of the tweeter. First introduced in 2019, the DesignMax family includes coaxial two-way loudspeakers and subwoofers with in-ceiling and surface-mount models available, plus high-SPL compression-driver options, compact models for tight spaces, and various IP55-rated outdoor options. All models require no DSP or EQ. They can also be paired with select Bose DSPs and amplifiers to enable Bose loudspeaker EQ and SmartBass processing. With the addition of these four pendant models, system designers and installers can now choose from a total of 16 DesignMax products to curate tailored solutions for background and foreground audio applications.

Designed to deliver high performance audio in nearfield applications with a wide range of flexible mounting options, the d&b audio-

Electro-Voice PREVIEW

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technik 44S is the EAW company’s first flush MKD1200 mountable cabinet. It’s comprised of dual 4.5inch neodymium LF drivers together with dual 1.25-inch HF dome tweeters mounted on a rotatable constant directivity horn for a rotatable dispersion characteristic of 90° x 30°. An optional d&b 44S back box can be used for flush mounting the loudspeaker into ceilings or walls, in both horizontal and vertical positions. The 3.6kg (6.2kg with back box) loudspeaker can be used as a standalone system or supplemented by actively driven d&b subwoofers. Measuring 390 x 128 x 150 mm, the asymmetric cabinet design and the optional back box promotes adjustments of +/- 20° in 5° increments for different listening heights. Powered by 10D or 30D installation

amplifiers, the passive 44S can produce a maximum SPL of 121dB and 123dB output respectively. The compact point source two-way design incorporates an intelligent, rotatable waveguide and baffle design that the German manufacturer claims will deliver smooth horizontal and tightly focused vertical dispersion between 90Hz–17kHz (-5dB).

The injection molded enclosure is finished in a resistant paint and further protected by a rigid metal grille. Two M8 threaded inserts are incorporated into the back panel to connect to different rigging accessories. The loudspeaker cabinet and most accessories are also available with the Special Color (SC) option that can be executed in all RAL colors.

In May, EAW announced the company has successfully begun assembling its MKD Series installation speaker line in-house at its Whitinsville, Massachusetts headquarters.

The new dedicated assembly space began operation in November 2020 and has not stopped since, with production of the new 3-way full-range EAW MKD1200 Series and customization of existing products, such as the QX and MK lines. With two stations for assembly, the 2400 square-foot space is in full operation. In addition to assembly, the new dedicated space also serves as QC and testing—the production floor is immediately in front of the engineering team, which allows any potential problems to be identified and improvements to be made in real time.

In June, Electro-Voice PREVIEW debuted, a new platform-independent software applica-

TECH SHOWCASE

tion designed to configure ElectroVoice line-array loudspeakers for optimized coverage. The software provides efficient system setup by creating visualizations of coverage, SPL, frequency response and precise mechanical load calculations.

PREVIEW features a full-color 3D interface, enabling users to place and manipulate objects and control rotation, scaling, and translation; surfaces viewed straight on are transparent.

This helps specifiers, designers, and audio engineers quickly calculate the ideal configurations and positioning of line arrays, as well as the angles between loudspeaker elements, amplifier drive and delay requirements, and other system design parameters. The software also recommends mechanically valid combinations of loudspeakers and rigging hardware.

Quick Map delivers immediate visualization of the coverage density. The flexible auto dB

Extron SoundField range option maps the predicted SPL range across the full available color range.

Virtual microphone positioning allows users to predict frequency response anywhere in the venue. The unique spectrogram display presents a vertical frequency response plot for each loudspeaker at the point at which its main geometric axis reaches the audience area.

These plots are shown side by side, to help the designer assess how evenly the venue is covered in both level and frequency. The software also simplifies the creation of subwoofer arrays. The application also includes a detailed report generation function and a powerful project file database, providing users with detailed acoustical and mechanical information. This timesaving database allows specifiers, designers and audio engineers to import existing

designs and to store new project files, drawings and templates.

The first full public-release version of PREVIEW will support most Electro-Voice touring and install line-array models, including X1(i), X2(i), XLC, XLD and XLE, as well as complementary subwoofers.

More models will be added in future versions.

Windows and Mac OS versions of the software are available as free downloads.

In May, the Extron SoundField ceiling tile speaker debuted. The new SoundField SF 228T Plus is a two-way ceiling tile speaker for low impedance and 70-volt/100-volt systems. The SoundField SF 228T Plus features a new coaxial driver that delivers high power handling with a smooth frequency response and clarity. It features a low-profile, 2-foot by 2-foot (610mm x 610mm) by 5.3-inch (135 mm) deep enclosure that is UL 2043 plenum rated, utilizes toolless connections, and drops directly into standard

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TECH SHOWCASE

L-Acoustics X4i

US-style suspended ceilings. The twooffering the way ported design includes an 8-inch Meyer Sound L A c o u s t i cs (203 mm) woofer and a 1.1-inch (28 ULTRA-X20 world-class mm) silk dome tweeter in a coaxial sonic signature. Dimenconfiguration that provides a smooth sioned for ease of integration into convenfrequency range of 47 Hz to 22 kHz for music and speech reproduction. The SF 228T tional construction materials, X4i is designed Plus offers 90 watts continuous pink noise and for fill applications in performing arts centers 180 watts continuous program output. This or houses of worship, matching the sonic sigspeaker is sold in pairs and is designed for fast nature of main L-Acoustics systems like A10 and easy installation into sound systems requir- and Kiva II. X4i can be hidden in walls, stair risers, stage lips, pit rails, under balconies, or ing high performance audio playback.

The JBL Control 23-1 is the most com- any other tight spot with ease. The enclosure pact of JBL Professional’s Control Contractor can additionally provide vocal reinforcement Series indoor/outdoor loudspeakers, making it in conference rooms, museums and exhibits, ideal for patios, foyers, retail, or other appli- hospitality venues, and other settings. Comcations where foreground/background music bined with Syva Sub and complemented with and paging are required. The two-way 3” a versatile mounting accessory, X4i supports speaker was designed for rich sonic character, indoor or outdoor background music in reswide coverage, consistent dispersion, versatile taurants, bars, hotels, and retail locations. mounting, and a contemporary high-design Outdoors, the X4i is IP55 rated and becomes look that fits into a wide range of decors. This watertight with a rear sealing plate, allowing makes Control 23-1 an excellent choice for a integration in challenging climatic or outdoor wide variety of applications, including retail environments.

Developed to match the ES Series of recessed stores, restaurants, health clubs, theme parks, educational facilities, hospitality, music cafes, speakers, and utilizing the same drivers and leisure venues, and anywhere where a top transformers, the Lowell ESP Series pendant quality compact indoor/outdoor foreground/ supports a wider range of installation background music (and/or paging) speaker is environments. The ESP-82TB is required. The unique and global patent pend- a 120W pendant unit that can be ing InvisiBall mounting hardware is included used in 25, 70, or 100V systems as well as an 8-ohm configuin each system, plus available U-bracket.

The L-Acoustics X4i ultra-compact coaxial ration. It is equipped with a enclosure is a powerful yet unobtrusive and 20-gauge CRS press-fit highly weatherized coaxial loudspeaker for grille and a magnetic mount installation applications. Weighing less than a top that hides the integral kilo (2.2 lbs), X4i, it’s the smallest loudspeaker top bracket and wiring the company has ever manufactured, mea- terminals. The intesuring only 3.9 inches/99 mm deep, yet still gral bracket assemLowell ESP Series 18

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JBL C23-1 bly is ready to hang from cable or pipe, but can also be converted to surface mount to a wall or truss by attaching an optional U-bracket to threaded insert points.

ESP Series speakers are available with a 6.5inch 50W coaxial driver, 8-inch 120W coaxial driver, or 80-inch 150W coaxial compression driver. The durable ABS plastic ported enclosure (black or white) is tuned for extended bass response.

In March, K-array KGEAR debuted. The new pro audio brand was made to meet a wider range of users worldwide with an essential line of pro-audio solutions designed, engineered and primarily made in Italy with a special attention to budget-sensitive yet demanding applications.

The KGEAR portfolio can be divided into two main areas – High Performance and Installed Sound – and comprises column systems, linearrays, ceiling and wall mount speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers for the most diverse applications ranging from large venues and commercial buildings to room-sized, residential environments. The elegant Installed Series comprises a line array column, point source column, 6” and 4” commercial wallmount speakers, and a compact passive sub.

The Meyer Sound ULTRAX20 Compact Point Source Loudspeaker claims the same revolutionary design principles and advanced technologies as the X40 but employs smaller drivers in a lighter and more compact package — a design that is new to Meyer Sound, and is a power-to-size break-

TECH SHOWCASE

NEXO P+ Series

through. The ULTRA-X20 incorporates two 5” cone drivers, one 2” diaphragm compression driver and a rotatable 110°x 50° horn in a coaxial configuration. Power comes from a three-channel Class D amplifier with extensive DSP. Everything fits inside a compact cabinet that measures just 7.5” wide by 19.04” high by 8.6” deep and weighs only 26 pounds. Preliminary performance specifications give an operating frequency range of 60 Hz to 18 kHz, phase response of ±45° (100 Hz – 16 kHz) and linear peak SPL of 123.5 dB measured with M-Noise.

The ULTRA-X20 may be ordered with any one of three connector panel options. The two AC powered versions both have looping Powercon connectors with choice of 3-pin XLR for audio

or 5-pin XLR for audio and RMS remote monitoring. Another version is offered for integration in IntelligentDC systems (audio and remote DC powering on a single cable) with a 5-pin Phoenix connector. Two additional variants are offered, identical except for the patterns of the rotatable horn: ULTRA-X22 (80°x 50°) and ULTRAX23 (110°x 110°). For extended low-frequency power, the ULTRA-X20 may be paired with the new USW-112P subwoofer, the 750-LFC lowfrequency control element or USW-210P subwoofer. Versions of the USW-112P are offered with either direct AC powering or for integration into systems using IntelligentDC, Rigging and installation has been carefully considered.

NEXO P+ Series point-source speakers are

both available as installation models. The 2020 P8 and P10 models follow on from the company’s first P+ Series model, the P12, launched in mid-2019. These multi-purpose speakers all build on the performance of the classic PS Series cabinets that established NEXO’s global reputation. The P8 arrives exactly 20 years after the launch of the PS8, a super-compact stage monitor and PA speaker which, together with the larger PS10 (launched in 1993), became a staple of AV and audio production rental inventories and a common sight in fixed installations. At its manufacturing headquarters, NEXO has invested in new tooling and assembly capabilities to produce the curvy, modern enclosures that are the signature of its new P+ Series. The P8 features a coaxial 8-inch LF driver with a 1.5-inch diaphragm HF driver. The P10 has a coaxial 10-inch Neodymium LF driver and 1.7-inch diaphragm HF driver. The horn driver can rotate in both cabinets, a NEXO hallmark since its introduction in

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TECH SHOWCASE

SoundTube STNet pendants

the PS Series. In the new P+ Series, the quick-release Magnelis steel grille can be quickly removed, allowing the horn to be swapped out and changing the standard 100º x 100º dispersion to a 110º x 60º alternative.

Custom-designed coaxial drivers are at the heart of these speakers. SPL output is 129dB Peak for the P8 and 136dB Peak for the P10. Frequency response is 66Hz to 20kHz for the P8, and 63Hz to 20kHz for the P10. Both new models are compact and lightweight with features to aid installation and a range of power sources. The L15 is the recommended sub.

Last December, the QSC AD-S5T 5.25in two-way loudspeaker system debuted, offering integrators a premium option for a wide variety of foreground and background sound reinforcement applications. The AcousticDesign Series includes a wide variety of sizes and enclosure types (surface-mount, pendantmount, ceiling-mount, columnar and SUB/ SAT) and provides consistent sonic characteristics across the entire line, allowing the ability to mix-and-match enclosures in a single installation. In addition, by utilizing native Q-SYS network amplifiers, including CX-Q Series, or standalone QSC DSP processing amplifiers, integrators can take advantage of Intrinsic Correction, a proprietary voicing algorithm for QSC loudspeakers, which helps to further reduce the setup time and tuning process.

To ease installation, the AD-S5T includes the X-Mount system, which enables the loudspeaker to be aimed and installed at a variety of precise, repeatable angles without slipping over time. It’s available in black (RAL9011) or white (RAL9010) and housed in a rugged ABS enclosure, to withstand the harshest elements.

In February, the full-range passive two-way RCF X

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RenkusHeinz Iconyx Compact

RCF X MAX

MAX series debuted. RCF designed it as a multi-purpose speaker, to achieve nearfield quality, vocal coherence, and a stable tonal balance even at full volume. X MAX series builds on the heritage of the popular RCF MAX series for a complete range of solutions for high-powered applications in bars, party rooms, clubs, and discos. The sleek and compact design with accurate finishing makes it suitable for almost any environment and architectural constraint. The X MAX Series features a custom-designed mid-frequency shaping for close distance listening on a perfectly tuned crossover to ensure even coverage and detail of the vocal range. Both models feature 1″ compression driver with electronic protection, X MAX 10 carries a 10” woofer and delivers a maximum SPL of 128 dB SPL with a total power handling of 700 W. The 12” woofer X MAX 12 reaches a maximum SPL of 129 dB SPL with a total power handling of 800 W. Each cabinet is covered with a sturdy black textured acrylic paint and a powder-coated metal grille with internal foam protection. Included are multiple rigging points to fly the speakers and a robust steel pole socket on the lower side. The rotatable 90°x70° horn allows installation either vertically or horizontally.

Renkus-Heinz Iconyx Compact Series is designed to provide integration options for midsized installations in house of worship, corporate, transportation, education, and government markets.

The new line is immediately QSC available, and kicks off with AD-S5T

the Iconyx Compact Series 12/3-RN single array module, aimed for use within spaces where even traditional ICONYX arrays might be too large. The ICC12/3 provides digital beam steering in a compact footprint, housing a dozen 3-inch fullrange, treated paper cone drivers, along with a 12-channel digital amplifier and DSP channel for each driver, resulting in a package nearly 40 percent smaller than previous Iconyx offerings. The module provides full RHAON II beam-steering with the latest U.R.G.O beam algorithms, a movable acoustic center, multiple beam opening angles, and high-pass filtering of individual beams. Standard RN units have analog and AES inputs, and come with an included wallmount bracket.

SoundTube Entertainment STNet IPenabled pendant speakers are Dante capable. The IPD-RS62-EZ and IPD-RS82-EZ use SoundTube’s BroadBeam Ring highfrequency dispersion technology for clear, understandable messaging and music over a wide area, even off-axis from the speakers.

The IPD-HP82-EZ uses a BroadBeam HP compression driver with waveguide for use in rooms with extra high ceilings. Applications for STNet pendants include any facility with high or open ceilings. All speakers are available in a black or white with a paintable finish. Hanging hardware is included. With digital signals plus power sent directly to the speakers via standard category cable, SoundTube’s STNet bi-amped pendant speakers are DSP-managed with the crossover, time correction and EQ all done in the digital domain.

Because they are on the Dante platform, they are interoperable with a host of other products worldwide. The STNet pendants may be used with SoundTube’s ST-Net Switch, offering up to 40 watts PoE to each speaker, or with standard PoE or PoE+ switches.

TECH SHOWCASE

POWER AMPLIFIERS

By Bennett Liles

Among the intricate features of modern power amplifiers are sophisticated controls and vastly improved operational efficiency. Amps are the AV system’s crossroads of brain and muscle. They endure constant heat in installations and they take a beating on the road while driving out high-energy sound to all parts of the performance venue, control room or theme park. The latest models unite DSP, load balancing, fault detection and automatic backup capability, expanding reliability and shrinking the space and power they require. The models shown here are typical of this remarkable evolution.

Using its proprietary D-MAX technology for unprecedented operational efficiency, the Ashly CA Series amps, the CA 1.52 and CA 1.54, also apply the SailFlow architecture for unimpeded airflow resulting in much better cooling. Up to 16 8-ohm speakers can run on a single CA 1.54 and the CA amps can also connect to 70V and 100V systems. There is adjustable front panel input gain per channel with lockout, Euroblock and XLR combo connectors, switchable HPF and clip limiter on each channel, and a solid metal front panel for road proven durability. With all its output power, the CA 1.54 only draws 22W in standby mode.

DSP control, multiple channels, and a choice of three different amplification arrangements are just some of the features of the AtlasIED DPA2402 amplifier. It can be

mute functions.

An all-in-one performer, the Audac Multifunctional SourceCon amplifier was a 2020 InfoComm Connected best of show special edition award winner. The MFA216 is based on a two-channel Class D amp design and it can output up to 80W per channel on low impedance sound systems. On 70V or 100V systems it provides up to 180W while its versatile switch mode power supply operates across a global range of main voltages. This amp also offers a stereo line input and its SourceCon module slot can accept internet radio or audio

Audac MFA216

configured to provide four channels of low impedance power or the unit can connect to a 70/100V system on one channel with two others delivering 4 or 8-ohm output. There are four balanced mic/line inputs and an accessory slot. This fits an optional DPA-DAC4 4-channel Dante receiver card or a DPA-AMIX two mic/line, two AUX input card, allowing the DPA2402 to have a total of eight inputs.

Add to this a wired remote control, GUI based input/output level metering, and triggered

AtlasIED DPA804 AtlasIED DPA2402

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Ashly Audio CA Series

TECH SHOWCASE

Biamp TesiraXEL 1200.1

streaming modules. Other features include a balanced mic/line input, integrated phantom power, and a priority switch for background music override.

The Aurora Multimedia AS-AMP1 Class D digital amplifier offers a unique blend of features in a very compact design. There is a microphone mixer, bridge connection, EQ control, and a dual-mono output selection.

The two stereo inputs can be switched by local button, remote or via RS-232 and these control methods can be used to adjust bass and treble as well. Its default output is dual 20W channels at 4 ohms but it can be switched to a single 40W 8-ohm connection. The mic input can also be mixed with a stereo line input with separate level controls. Take it anywhere

work topology, the unit includes a softwareconfigurable media interface that supports Aurora ASdaisy chain, network redundancy, and single AMP1 cable configurations. The rack mountable design also features an auto standby mode.

Flexibility and reliability to suit any installation scenario is the idea behind the Bogen M600 modular power amplifier at the top of their M-Class line. These amps have three modes of operation; Stereo, 70V Mono or Dual Mono. They also provide two modular input bays that accept a range of input modBogen M600 ules, one of which is already supplied with the amplifier. This series also features three selectable low frequency roll-off choices, post and pre-EQ output feeds, DC, overload, and thermal protection along with clip detection and limiting circuits. The 14-gauge steel chassis and cast aluminum front panel allow professional level durability. The M600 delivCrest Audio ers 600W per channel at 4 ohms and 400W CLh 6000C per channel at 8 ohms.

Remote controlled operation, active clip limiting, and overcurrent protection are all part of the Crest Audio CLh 6000C Class-D power amp. CLh Series amplifiers automatically reduce gain at the onset of clipping and they all include a switchable, built-in low-cut filter. The CLh 6000C produces 3745 Watts per channel continuous power at 100V and it runs efficiently on its light-weight switchmode power supply. The speaker outputs are located on screw terminals on the rear panel along with the input limiting adjustment controls. The CLh Series amps also feature three temperature dependent variable speed fans because its international power supply is com- and heavy gauge aluminum cases.

Big performance in a small space is the patible worldwide and it is small enough to be secret to success for the new Crestron AMPmounted even under a table.

An AVB/TSN enabled, digital networked, X300 with its capability to fit on a wall, shelf, four channel amplifier, the Biamp Systems under a table or in a rack. It’s a 4-channel amp that can also be configured as a bridged TesiraXEL 1200.1 applies a versatile mix mode 3-channel unit. Each of its 4 of capabilities including power districhannels output 75W and in bridged bution (1-100% of available power Crestron to any channel), selectable speaker AMP-X300 impedance, and delay equalization. There is also a very useful audible locate function on the front panel that allows quick and easy validation of speaker runs. So that users can specify the net-

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TECH SHOWCASE

Extron XPA U 2002 SB

Dynacord IPX10:8

mode it produces 150W on the bridged channel. Single channel bridged operation takes it up to 300W. The amp can connect to low impedance loads or 70/100V systems and it has balanced and unbalanced inputs on RCA connectors or detachable terminal blocks.

The Crown Audio DCi 8|300DA features network control and monitoring, EN 54-16 compliance, independent Dante/AES67 ports, 48kHz processing, 20 presets along with an input router and it uses DriveCore amplifier technology. There is also support for Dante 4.0 firmware for integration with Dante Domain Manager. This model’s DSP capability includes LevelMAX limiters, input/output EQ, crossover, delay, and speaker line monitoring. The European Union EN54 compliance allows the DCi 8|300DA to function as part of an emergency notification system. Its versatility is complete with GPIO ports that can be configured for a variety of functions.

Expanded installation options are provided by dual impedance capability of the Denon Professional DN-474A with two channels operating on a 70/100V system while the other two going on low impedance output.

Operators are kept informed through front panel LED indicators that show signal pres-

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The new Extron XPA U 2002 SB two channel bridgeable output amplifier is small, quiet, and versatile.

Among its selectable output modes are two 200W channels into 4 or 8 ohms, one 400W ence, clipping status and thermal interruption. bridged channel into 70/100V, and one 400W Equipped with short and open circuit protec- bridged channel into 8 or 16 ohms. Efficient tion, the DN-474A is designed for connec- fanless, convection cooled operation allows tion to multiple 70/100V speaker systems on multiple units to be stacked in close proximity long cable runs as well as shorter runs to low within racks. Other features include a defeatimpedance speakers. The 4-channel Class-D able auto-standby with fast wake up, remote amp has separate volume controls for each volume and mute control, automatic clip limchannel and it is fitted with Euroblock input iter, and multiple protection circuits. There are also recessed detented level controls on and output connectors.

Also in the Class-D amp realm, the Dyna- the rear panel.

Take all of the most valued features in an cord IPX10:8 was developed specifically for fixed install applications with its eight 1250W installation power amplifier, add tamperchannels, digitally controlled PFC power sup- proof gain controls for each channel and you ply, and fully integrated DSP. Control and have the Lab Gruppen FA2402. With 240W monitoring can be done via front panel OLED per channel output, this one can connect to display and over fully integrated IRISNet 70/100V speakers systems or low impedance capability. The input signals interface on 6-pin loads independently on each channel. The Euroblock terminals and the maximum input RJ45 GPI connection allows remote control level is +21DBu. The unit’s 1300W power con- while its Auto Ramp circuitry provides fast sumption drops to less than 18W in standby power up. The 1RU half rack width enclosure mode. DSP control is extensive with a wide is convection cooled for very quiet operation range of parameter adjustments including one and it’s an easy fit for shelves as well as on or under tables. The unit’s efficient operation has factory preset and 20 user defined presets. earned Energy Star certification.

Lea Professional Connect Series IoTenabled professional Class-D amplifiers Crown can handle small or medium scale instalAudio DCi lations with their selectable impedance 8300DA outputs on each channel, builtin WiFi access point, and fast Denon DN474A Lab. Gruppen FA2402

TECH SHOWCASE

Martin Audio VIA5004

NEXO NXAMP4X2MK2

Lea Professional Connect 704

wired network connections. The web based user interface works on any device with no software download required. DSP functions include input routing, multiple 48dB/Oct crossover filters, 8 Parametric EQ filters, configurable speaker limiters and real time load monitoring. The universal power supply can be connected anywhere and there is an external I/O port for remote power control and fault monitoring.

The Martin Audio VIA5004 Class-D amp is a 4-channel unit with 1250 watts into 2 ohms for each of the four or two bridged channels of 2500W into 4 ohm loads. This model is a 2RU rack mount design with a global auto-sensing, switch mode power supply. The front panel provides level controls for each channel along with signal level and clipping LED indicators.

Cooling is accomplished with front to back air flow through variable speed fans. All inputs

are on female and male Neutrik XLRs while the outputs are Neutrik speakON terminals. The unit weighs 22lbs.

There are four 2500W power amps in one unit with 64-bit signal processing, four analog audio inputs, and an expansion card slot that can provide four digital inputs in the NEXO NXAMP4X2MK2. All of this is operated with a big color touch screen on the front panel and remote controlled through an extensively detailed networking interface on the rear panel. Multi-core DSP allows the amp to stay at the top of performance with future firmware updates. Also on the rear panel are RS232 serial and GPIO ports. The universal 100-240 mains voltage range perfectly handles power anywhere. Optional

ACT-5800 Series Digital Wireless Systems

New Transmitters. More Possibilities.

MIPRO ACT-5800 Series digital wireless systems operate in the ISM 5.8 GHz band that effec�vely avoids interference from UHF and 2.4 GHz products.

They deliver crystal clear 24-bit/48 kHz digital audio, excep�onally low latency, excellent dynamic range and ultra-wide frequency response.

The new handheld, bodypack transmi�ers accept either two AA ba�eries or one 18500 Li-ion ba�ery, charging via USB-C. The latest TA-58 digital plug-on transmi�er can fit MIPRO’s new recording microphones for a wide range of professional audio applica�ons. It is powered by one 18500 Li-ion ba�ery which can be recharged via USB-C.

ACT-580H

ACT-580T

Distributed in USA by Avlex Corporation 6655 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64131 Tel: 816-581-9103 | Fax: 816-581-9104 | Email: sales@avlex.com | www.avlex.com

TA-58

MM-100

MM-300

MM-500

www.mipro.com.tw

100% Made in Taiwan

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TECH SHOWCASE Powersoft Ottocanali 1204 DSP

RDL SFNP35E

QSC DPA8K8Q

Speco Technologies PL260A

There are also eight bi-direc- This unit converts one Dante network audio Dante, EtherSound and AES network Renkustional GPIO connections and output to the constant voltage output using cards are available.

Heinz Flexible Amplifier Summing selectable Dante sample rates of 44.1, 48, 88.2 The Powersoft OttoSA Amp Technology that optimizes for and 96kHz. It can be powered from a PoE++ canali 1204 DSP is an Modules either higher voltage loads (up capable network switch or from an external 8-channel unit that can to 200Vrms output) or high 24VDC power supply. Output level can be deal with operating power current loads (up to 35A). The externally controlled via the VCA port on a up to 400V using Power front panel LCD screen is easy detachable terminal block. By connecting a Factor Correction in its to read and provides all local 10K Ohm resistor across the VCA terminals switch mode power supply. the output can be adjusted. It also features control information needed.

Controlled and monitored Two primary features of thermal and output short-circuit protection. with the ArmoníaPlus Designed to unify all Renkus-Heinz speakthe RCF DMA 162P 2-chanapp, the amp puts 80W nel amp are extensive DSP ers across connectivity and control platforms, into each channel at 8 and a compact form fac- the Renkus-Heinz SA Series amplifiers have ohms and 150W per tor that allows it to be full networking capabilities, RHAON II conchannel with a 4-ohm mounted just about any- trol and monitoring, and a choice of connecload. There are thermal where such as in a rack for tions between analog, AES/EBU, or Dante and DC current alarms a multi-room system or inputs. The series includes the SA-625 with as well as general puron a table top as a single 500W + 125W output and the SA-1250 with pose alarm interfaces. stand-alone unit. With the 1000W + 250W in two-way configuration and The DSP provides input/ addition of the optional 500W + 500W + 250W in three-way mode. output independent EQ in each channel, time delays up to 16ms, peak RDNet board, DSP functions and specific There is also the SA-2000 amp which can be and RMS limiters, and Active DampingCon- RCF speaker presets can be set up. The Class- set up for a single channel of 2000W into 4 trol for cable length compensation. Remote D amp puts 160W into each channel. Also ohms, 2 channels of 1000W each into 8 ohms control includes switching between each available in it are a proprietary bass enhancer or 3 channels with 1000W, 500W and 250W. algorithm, FIR filters, and environmental EQ. All have built-in DSP that features delay, EQ channel’s main and aux inputs.

Offering top performance for monitoring Even with its compact size, there is room for and nine preset memories.

For multi-room applications such as resand control within the Q-SYS Ecosystem, the a front panel display that allows fine adjusttaurants and bars, the Speco TechnoloQSC DPA-8K8Q has eight channels of power ments of input and output parameters. gies PL260A 260W The RDL SF-NP35E has the smaller addressable from the network. System safety features include protection for short circuit, end of the venue spectrum covered RCF DMA open circuit, over current, over voltage as well for conference rooms or classrooms 162P as thermal, RF, DC fault shutdown, and active with a 35W RMS constant voltage inrush limiting. All of the Q models offer mic/ amplifier for 70/100V sound line inputs into the Q-SYS network and this systems and it requires no one pushes 8000W into the speaker outputs. software for configuration.

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TECH SHOWCASE

TOA Electronics A-848D

Yamaha XMV8280-D

amplifier offers seven front panel selectable speaker zones with a 70V/25V switch and it adds a connection for a 24V external backup power supply. There is also a low impedance speaker output with 4, 8, and 16-ohm terminals. Users have a choice of five balanced mic inputs on XLRs and each of these can independently provide phantom power selectable from a DIP switch. The unit has a music on hold feature and Mic 1 has a priority switch for

paging. In addition to speaker outputs there is also a stereo aux output on RCA connectors.

The new TOA Electronics A-848D digital mixer amp has a wide range of features that deliver plenty of installation versatility. Its two module slots accept 900 Series modules to custom tailor the amp’s capability to the specific job. There are four control triggers that can be activated. Two of the six inputs are mic/line with switchable phantom power,

another two are mic inputs and all of these connect on terminal blocks. Another two inputs are RCA line level aux with adjustable ducking levels. This unit also features remote volume control, a separate recording output, preamp output and a complete web interface for remote parameter monitoring and setup.

At the top of the XMV Series amplifiers, the Yamaha XMV8280-D has all of the XMV features while applying 280W into each of its eight channels at 4/8 ohms, 250W at 70/100V or four channels of 560W in double power mode. The preferred mode can be selected on a rear panel DIP switch. It is also furnished with the YDIF digital input format as well as Dante network ports through which Dante Domain Manager and Dante Device Lock can be used.

The amp is compatible with control systems such as those from Crestron and AMX. It is also possible to mix digital connections and analog connections for each input channel of an XMV Series amp.

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GRACE UNDER PRESSURE Digital signage saves the rodeo

By Cynthia Wisehart

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T

here are many stories of resolve and creativity in pandemic, and many instances where the usual platitudes—innovate, be bold, take risks, make a leap of faith--actually did apply. The example in this story brings together a manufacturer, an integrator, a venue, a marquee event, and their advertisers in the interdependent way that can happen in AV. What started as high-stakes improvisation became an unexpected opportunity for everyone.

The San Antonio Rodeo has drawn tens of millions of visitors to its events since it started over seven decades ago in 1949. It attracts thousands of volunteers and national sponsors such as General Mills, AT&T, Ford, and Michelob and renowned music acts. It is a beloved fixture in the San Antonio community, with year round events and community activities.

The February Stock Show and Rodeo is the marquee event. In late October it became clear there needed to be a venue change for the 2021 show and related Covid restrictions.

SA Rodeo leadership wanted to downscale from their usual home at the 18,000-seat ATT Center to the Freeman Coliseum next door, a smaller (and older) arena, where they could better manage health and safety. It was an ironic homecoming of sorts—the Rodeo had inaugurated the new Coliseum in 1950 when the Bexar County-owned facility opened.

The Stock Show and Rodeo is a complex event in any year. Beyond all the livestock events there is always a big musical act roster—including this year. The venue change and Covid upped the logistics manifold. But there was an even bigger wrinkle. The 72-yearold Freeman Coliseum did not have a video distribution infrastructure for digital signage, a key part of the revenue for the event.

Leadership at Freeman Coliseum understood that adding video distribution and signage was make-or-break for getting the Rodeo contract (because it was make-or-break for the Rodeo’s advertisers). The Coliseum team turned to their longtime rental and staging AV partner Texas AVL to design and install a venue-wide digital signage system in a matter of months, with an install window of just a couple of weeks.

“They said ‘we need video content all over the property’ and showed us the map where people were going to be walking,” says Matthew Bryan CEO of Texas AVL. Bryan says that although Freeman leadership had not necessarily anticipated upgrading the venue with

a digital signage system, they understood the potential for beyond the Rodeo’s immediate need—a revenue potential that has now been realized many times over this year. The Coliseum had managed through Covid, in part by serving as a testing center. Leadership went ahead and committed the resources—both financial and in terms of IT—to a high-end system from Contemporary Research.

“This was a situation where the system absolutely had to work and absolutely could not fail,” Bryan says of why he was comfortable with the manufacturer choice. We’d been specing some Contemporary Research systems into other installations. It is not the cheapest option, but its reliability and performance made it essential in this case. Everything was riding on this for multiple revenue streams. If it fails, it’s on us. Everyone is watching so it’s hit a home run or go home.”

Bryan says that despite the age of the venue, it had a good network and IT team—both were instrumental in smoothing the install. But the time pressure was intense and the system kept expanding. “Everybody was running, and they kept adding and adding,” Bryan says, “it was ‘did we say five? Now we need nine.’”

The final system comprised of Samsung screens, fourteen QIP-DVX IPTV decoder/ controllers; two QIP-HDMI 2 IPTV encoders; and one IP-DXL Display Control Center with

Display Express Lite. The QIP-DVX IPTV decoder/controller offers display control functionality through RS-232 or IR. The QIPHDMI2 IPTV encoder is dual-program with two HDMI inputs. The IP-DXL Display Control Center with Display Express Lite provides display control over Ethernet, sending control commands as UDP broadcast data packets to all decoder/controllers on the network. The Display Control Center manages all display control at Freeman without third-party help.

A server and CMS software supports content creation; Texas AVL provides that manage for each incoming show.

“They ended up liking the product very much,” Bryan says. “We did hit a home run.

It as very transformative for them, and they have used it for every event this year. But it was also transformative for us. We were able to parley it into a larger relationship with them and a larger contract. We are now the official AV company for the Freeman Coliseum and that carries weight. It had been a goal of ours when we came into San Antonio two years ago to get a high profile large venue. This gave us that opportunity though in an unexpected way. It was larger scale and a lot more pressure and our guys made it happen.” Would it have happened without Covid? Like a lot of people, Bryan can say this: “Covid gave us the chance to find opportunity in the bad times.”

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BEST OF MARKET ‘21

T

he following products were judged from among submitted products for the annual Best of ISE/Best of Market ’21 awards. These winners reflect a commitment to our industry, not only in delivering quality signal and good experiences to endusers but to attempt to solve problems and create value for integrators. Congratulations to the winning companies and product teams.

DVIGEAR HYPERLIGHT DISPLAYPORT / MDP 1.4 ACTIVE OPTICAL CABLES

HyperLight DisplayPort / mDP 1.4 Active Optical Cables support both full-size and Mini DisplayPort connections. They enable the extension of DisplayPort 1.4 signals with aggregate data rates up to 32.4 Gbps. (HBR3), and support resolutions up to 8K/30Hz 4:4:4 for cable lengths of up to 50 meters and 4K / 60Hz (4:4:4) up to 100 meters. They are HDCP 1.4 / 2.2 compliant. Mini DisplayPort connectors at both ends of the cable provide direct connection to both Mini-DP sources and displays without the need for intermediary adaptors or dongles. Each cable includes a pair of detachable docking plugs to enable direct connection to full-size DisplayPort devices; locking pins prevent disconnection.

The company claims a MTBF of greater than 150,000 hours (> 17 years) and an in-field failure rate of less than 0.1%. Highspeed DisplayPort signals are transmitted over four optical fibers, which make them immune to interference from environmental noise. The optical transmission path provides a very low RFI/EMI profile, which allows the cables to be installed in applications with strict security requirements. Power drawn from the DisplayPort source eliminates the need for an external power supply.

Constructed using a hybrid design of Polyfluorinated Optical Fiber and copper wires, HyperLight cables are plenum rated, rugged, lightweight, and highly flexible, with a minimum bend radius of just two millimeters. To minimize cable diameter during installation, when the full-size DisplayPort docking plugs are detached, the cable’s cross-sectional area measures 8×13 millimeters. An optional pulling sleeve further enhances ease of installation even in narrow conduits or plenum air spaces. From the judges: “Greatly simplifies long-run DisplayPort and mini DisplayPort installations for 4:4:4 color at 4K/60 or 8K/30. Designed with installation in mind--narrow diameter with optional pulling sleeve, locking pins, no adapters, dongles, or external power supply, HDCP-compliant.”

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SHURE MICROFLEX ECOSYSTEM

The Microflex Ecosystem brings together Shure’s top AV products to provide a customizable, all-inclusive audio conferencing solution, regardless of location and application across small meeting rooms, large lecture halls or full-scale conference centers. The Microflex ecosystem includes components from Shure’s fieldproven lineup. The MXA710 Linear Array Microphone provides audio capture in AV conferencing environments with a aesthetic low-profile design. The Microflex MXN5W-C Networked Loudspeaker offers high-quality speech reproduction; it’s PoE-enabled with an onboard amplifier and includes Dante inputs and outputs. The MXA Network Mute Button—is designed for easy muting of Shure networked audio products, including Microflex Advance Array Microphones, the IntelliMix P300 and IntelliMix Room DSPs and ANIUSB-MATRIX. This complete solution is collaboration ready—certified for use with leading third-party software and hardware conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Cisco WebEx, etc. Microphones, DSP, and loudspeakers are Microsoft Teams Certified. Shure offers a variety of product bundles for specific room size requirements. Shure Designer software speeds time to installation and supports monitoring/troubleshooting for scalable installations. From the judges: “It’s a suite of industry-leading products, but it’s the thought put into end-to-end integration, pre-packaged options, and certification with most consumer collaboration platforms that puts this over the top.

Meets the challenge for the way we need to work and scale now.”

AUDINATE DANTE AVIO ADAPTERS

This year, Audinate expanded its popular Dante AVIO line with new adapters that add USB-C and Bluetooth signals to Dante audio networks. These new AVIO offerings enable both wired and wireless connection options for mobile devices and computers to connect to any Dante audio network for playout or recording.

The Dante AVIO family of adapters allow users to easily use

non-networked audio equipment on a Dante audio network. Dante AVIO is available in 1- or 2-channel analog input or output configurations, as well as AES3/EBU, USB, and Bluetooth. The Dante AVIO USB-C adapter connects to devices with USB-C or A ports (cables included) to deliver and receive two channels of audio over a Dante audio network. It requires no additional drivers and works with any application. The Dante AVIO USB-C adapter may be powered via USB or PoE. When connected to a PoE Ethernet switch, 7.5 watts of power is available to USB-C compatible mobile devices, enabling smartphones and tablets to remain charged while connected to a Dante network. Pairing devices is simple and straightforward, allowing for automatic connections to paired devices when in range. Dante AVIO Bluetooth is ideal for playback to larger sound systems, and for connecting networked speakers and microphones to mobile conferencing software running on tablets and smartphones.

From the judges: “A slick, easy, and necessary way to bring non-networked USB-C and Bluetooth devices on to the Dante network.”

CRESTRON ELECTRONICS DM NVX 4K60 4:4:4 HDR NETWORK AV ENCODER/DECODER WITH DOWNMIXING AND DANTE AUDIO

Crestron DM NVX technology transports ultra-high definition 4K60 4:4:4 video over standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet with no perceptible latency or loss of quality. Using standard network switches and CAT5e UTP wiring, it supports professional onboard scaling, HDR (High Dynamic Range), and HDCP 2.3 compliance for quality and compatibility for today’s varied media sources.

Crestron DM-NVX-363 is a compact AV-over-IP encoder/decoder designed to function as either a transmitter or receiver. Capable of handling a network AV installation of any size, the DMNVX363 includes features such as secure web-based control and management, a scaling HDMI output, video wall processing, an analog audio input or output, surround sound audio with downmixing, native Dante and AES67 transmit and receive capability, USB 2.0 and KVM integration, and support for copper and fiber Ethernet connectivity. In selected operating mode, the DM-NVX-363 can encode or decode a video signal to achieve imperceptible end-to-end latency of less than 1 frame. From the judges: “This all-purpose AVoIP platform brings Crestron detail and integration to 1G 4K60 4:4:4 AVoIP installs.

Working as either a receiver or transmitter, DM NVX handles varied audio and video sources (and KVM) with Pro AV priorities for signal quality, scaling, and low latency.”

DATAPATH AETRIA

Aetria from Datapath brings all the elements of control room design, management, control, and monitoring into a single solution, allowing

integrators and end users to design systems to meet requirements, including connectivity, video walls, workstations, and source management, ranging from small to very large installations. Aetria has been designed to make content sharing easy for operators, plus providing easy control, management, and security for administrators. It manages the underlying technology, enabling users to focus on their primary objectives with simple and secure ‘any source/any screen’ management to control rooms.

With Aetria, Datapath is also introducing several workstation options, depending on end-user requirements and connectivity preferences. The comprehensive Aetria Workstation solution offers almost unlimited connectivity and flexibility of source viewing, sharing and control, and security depending on requirements. From the judges: “An extensive platform built with comprehensive care for modern control room design, management, control, and monitoring, taking advantage of Datapath’s long-standing expertise in secure multi-point sharing of data.”

ROSS VIDEO ULTRIX CARBONITE MID-SIZE HYPER-CONVERGED PRODUCTION PLATFORM

Ultrix Carbonite combines the routing and AV processing capabilities of Ross Ultrix with the creative capabilities of the Ross Carbonite mid-size production switcher. This compact, single-chassis solution consumes less power, takes up less space, and requires less cooling compared with the equivalent racks of equipment it can replace. This greatly simplifies system design, cabling, and equipment installation. Combining the routing platform with the production switcher shrinks the number of inter-rack failure points and reduces maintenance requirements. Overall, significant CapEx and OpEx savings can be achieved over the life of Ultrix Carbonite. Ultrix Carbonite is ideal for mid-size facilities facing the challenges of mixed or changing signal formats or connectivity schemes. Any of the three available Ultrix I/O boards (SDI, IP or SFP) can be installed in available slots and mixed as needed, providing maximum flexibility and convenience now and in the future.

Each Software-Defined Production Engine (SDPE) can be installed in either an Ultrix FR2 or FR5 frame and provides up to two powerful Carbonite M/E banks and versatile MiniMEs. That means a 2RU chassis and 1RU redundant power supply frame can provide a complete, multi-M/E production switcher and a flexible routing platform for HD or 4K UHD. This space-saving solution eliminates the need for audio processing, framesync and multiviewer hardware, as well as the interrack cabling typically required in traditional system designs. The versatile SDPE hardware blade that powers Ultrix Carbonite is designed to provide significant advantages over traditional switchers.

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New features and functionality can be added without costly hardware replacement. Multiple SDPE blades, configured as Carbonite switchers, can be installed in a single FR5 frame for simultaneous HD and 4K UHD production. From the judges: “This ingenious hybrid of Utrix distribution and Carbonite creative control is designed to save space, minimizes failure points and presents a flexible way to manage and upgrade mixed signal scenarios.”

BOSE PROFESSIONAL AMM MULTIPURPOSE LOUDSPEAKERS

The Bose Professional AMM multipurpose loudspeakers feature a versatile, ergonomic point-and-shoot design and consistent voicing with companion Bose AM array modules and Bose AMU Utility loudspeakers.

AMM loudspeakers are multipurpose, on purpose, and can deploy as one part of a system or in multiple roles within the system. Permanent installations or portable PA setups use the same AMM models as mains, monitors, fills, and delays. The AMM line includes two fullrange loudspeakers--AMM108 and AMM112--and a companion subwoofer. Both loudspeakers feature a passive, two-way coaxial design and Bose DSP. The proprietary Beamwidth Matching Waveguide optimizes the LF and HF transition and allows for greater pattern control and consistency. Located just behind the grille, the Beamwidth Matching Waveguide seals the acoustic volume of the woofer and features a unique vent pattern that controls low-frequency dispersion, aligning the low- and high-frequency beamwidths at crossover. The result is wide-band, symmetrical sound coverage.

The AMS115 subwoofer offers low frequency down to 35 Hz, a 15-inch transducer, ported lightweight enclosure, and integrated M20 threaded pole mount; the cabinet can be rotated for installation options. Ergonomic handles, cutouts, cabinet geometry, and lightweight design make AMM loudspeakers easy to integrate into any application.

From the judges: “Like all the winning speakers, these reflect a threedimensional view of what installations really need. Multi-purpose with a purpose means two full range speakers and a subwoofer are designed to provide integrated options for various configurations, as well as support consistent voicing with companion Bose arrays and utility speakers.”

RENKUS-HEINZ, INC. ICONYX COMPACT SERIES (ICC 24-3)

Renkus-Heinz’s Iconyx Compact 24/3 brings the benefits of RenkusHeinz’ Iconyx family to a small footprint array. The ICC 24/3 is one of many models in the new Iconyx Compact Series, a line that offers additional solutions for integrators in “medium-sized” installations, opening up more opportunities in the house of worship, corporate, transportation, education, and government markets.

The Iconyx Compact Series brings performance and directivity to

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spaces where the classic Iconyx arrays might be too large. The very narrow profile blends into nearly any environment, while the directivity control helps with challenging acoustics, making beam-steered line arrays available to even the most architecturally sensitive spaces. An all-new, 24-channel digital amplifier powers 24 3″/ 7 7 mm full-range, high sensitivity, treated-paper cone drivers. With an amplifier and DSP channel for each driver, the flexibility of Iconyx is available in a package nearly 40 percent smaller than the classic Iconyx.

The ICC 24/3 provides the performance of Renkus-Heinz: full RHAON II beam-steering with the latest U.R.G.O beam algorithms, a movable acoustic center, multiple beam opening angles, and high-pass filtering of individual beams. Wall-mount bracket is included. Standard RN units have analog and AES inputs; RD1 models add Dante audio-over-IP functionality. From the judges: “Now mid-size installations get their turn with Iconyx, part of an important broader trend to deliver quality to a wider range of installations.”

MARTIN AUDIO TORUS

TORUS is the first constant curvature array created by Martin Audio in its 50-year history. It combines Martin Audio’s optimized coverage with the SPL profile needed for applications that typically require a throw between 15-30m.

TORUS was in development for three years. Each TORUS cabinet is designed for a flexible horizontal dispersion pattern and this can be manually adjusted between 90°, 60°, or 75° (asymmetrical) via the unique Dynamic Horn Flare – a rotating mechanism accessible from the front grille. This not only moves and locks the waveguide but also adjusts the horn mouth (including the low diffraction termination) into the baffle, to ensure correct geometry and optimal performance in each of those settings.

Martin Audio has increased mid-band sensitivity with a phase bung mounted in front of the 12” woofer. This increases the efficiency and allows a higher crossover frequency into the three 1.4” HF polymer dome neodymium compression drivers, minimizing upper mid-band distortion while achieving the required headroom and throw. The three compression drivers are arrayed via acoustic waveguides designed using BEM models to achieve the correct wavefront curvature and phase alignment for consistent coverage. A passive crossover ensures that system deployment is simple and amplifier channel count can be minimized or optimized and scaled for the application as desired.

Details such as magnetized rigging clips to avoid rattle are among the many details incorporated. From the judges: “Our manufacturers are each bringing their well-rounded and specialized expertise—and the commitment of their talent--to a breadth of audio installations. Martin’s first-ever constant curvature array honors small to medium throw live events with installation flexibility, efficiency of coverage, and a sound profile purpose-designed for 15-30m.”

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY FOR WORK, LIFE, AND ART

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HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

REALTIME REALISM ne of the most important roles for high impact video is in readiness training for armed forces. Simulators must be split-second responsive and exactly accurate. Advancements in video have supported our forces and those of our allies. Recently the United States Air Force undertook a major upgrade of their F35 Joint Strike Fighter Full Mission Simulator (FMS). Their longtime simulation partner was RGB Spectrum and the Air Force decided to take advantage of the brand new Zio 2 AV-over-IP video distribution platform. The goal was to take the FMS to the next level for the pilots, and also to broaden the distribution of simulation sessions to be available to stakeholders on various devices and in various parts of the world.

The F35 is a Lockheed Martin single pilot aircraft. The simulated missions involve up to four aircraft and a variety of tactical and engagement scenarios where Mach 3 must be recreated with no perceptible latency; a millisecond discrepancy can later translate to a miscalculation—landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier for example.

Over the decades, these simulators have evolved with codecs, now taking advantage of H.264/2.65; the Zio 2 platform uniquely delivers

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both. In addition all frames are encoded as iframes to support jog and shuttle when the simulator recordings are scrubbed through in detailed reviews. Additionally, Zio 2 can encode a single input at different bit rates. This enables a single device to encode video up to 4Kp60 to local decoders while simultaneously transmitting lower resolution, lower bandwidth streams to remote locations across a campus or the Internet.

This was important to the Air Force workflow to make recordings available in varying levels of resolution and for various playback devices, whether reviewed by supervisors, officers, allies, command level personnel or others for various mission reasons.

An open system, Zio 2 supports industry standard H.264/265 video from third party cameras and other devices; its scalable, open standards foundation, multichannel codec support and integrated suite of encoders, decoders, content management and media servers can support a wide variety of enterprise applications.

“Our systems are designed for mission critical dissemination, distribution and collaboration of information in real time—the ultimate objective is to improve situation awareness and make faster decisions,” says Michael Callahan, product marketing manager at RGB Spectrum.

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WALL ART

aking its debut at the Pabellón de la Navegación (Navigation Pavilion) in Seville, the touring media exhibition Impressionists dramatically interpreted the works of Renoir, Van Gogh, and others as a floor-to-ceiling digital video wall.

Utilizing Matrox QuadHead2Go multi-monitor controllers, Ukrainian multimedia company Front Pictures was able to provide a mesmerizing, twenty-first century take on the works of Impressionist masters across a sprawling canvas.

For Front Pictures, bringing some of the most distinguished modern paintings to life required a flexible and reliable video wall solution.

What the company had in mind was a plug-and-play, standalone appliance that would be capable of driving multiple Full HD displays, as well as be compact enough to be quickly disassembled and reassembled to meet the travel needs of the digital exhibition.

Front Pictures’ choice to acquire QuadHead2Go devices for the job was based on previous experience according to Yuri Kostenko, Front Pictures CEO. “We have used the Matrox TripleHead2Go triple-display appliance for many years now, and when Matrox released the QuadHead2Go, it was perfect timing. We had been looking for a higher-density-output device to support more displays from a small footprint, and we knew that Matrox’s multi-screen technology would perfectly suit our

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demanding installations.”

The Matrox PowerWall software included with QuadHead2Go allows Front Pictures to easily install and customize configurations, making deployment simple. The installation behind the Impressionists exhibition comprises 14 screens – each being 4.4 meters in height – spanning 116 meters in total. Content for the exhibition created by Front Pictures is hosted on the company’s Screenberry media server. From there, the content is routed to six QuadHead2Go Q155 appliances – each capturing an HDMI video signal from the media server for display across four HDMI-equipped projectors. QuadHead2Go devices connect to a total of 21 BenQ TH671ST projectors that cast the video onto the screens across 40,320 x 1080 pixels for a total resolution of 43.5 megapixels.

The result is an expansive display of revitalized versions of Impressionist masterworks, such as Van Gogh’s flower still life collections with petals that appear to float gently across the screens. When set to music, the moving paintings delivered by the QuadHead2Go video controllers and Screenberry media server transport viewers to the imaginations of Impressionist virtuosos.

According to Kostenko, QuadHead2Go has enabled the company to push the boundaries of a visual experience with the convenience of a flexible, easy-to-deploy, multi-screen appliance.

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

HIGH ART How large format video artists lit DTLA for one remarkable night

By Cynthia Wisehart Photos by Koury Angelo courtesy LUMINEX

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n April 10th, while we were still mostly in lockdown, my fellow Angelenos and I received a gift of video art, casted onto multiple downtown architectural buildings, taking over the night for a five-block radius. Wandering among the large immersive canvases, an estimated 13,200 viewers guided themselves on an artistic journey, which was free to anyone who chose to come, or who simple stumbled upon the moment unaware.

One of the most interesting and cutting edge aspects of LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light was the content creation. Well-known visual artists Carole Kim, Nancy Baker Cahill, Refik Anadol, Sarah Rara, Luciana Abait, and Akiko Yamahshito drew on AI, augmented reality, multi-channel video, and other unique technological approaches that brought a level artistic intensity; they proved that large format immersive projection has so far only scratched the surface of its potential. And, there was portable personal audio: visitors were able to download the QR code to access an interactive map and listen to the recorded soundtracks.

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HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY Projection of these dynamic and immersive installations was made possible through the use of Panasonic’s 4K projection technology, which included the PT-RQ32, PT-RZ31K, PT-RQ50K, and PT-RZ21K three-chip DLP SOLID SHINE 4K laser projectors. In addition to being an in-person event, the exhibit was also livestreamed to viewers around the world.

“These projectors are really designed for these types of large scale applications where there may be ambient light,” says Brian Duffy Business Development Executive at Panasonic. He immediately praises the production company for the show—Show Imaging of Vista, CA—before elaborating on the projectors.

Duffy says one of the models that stood out most in this case was the RQ30. “It really is unique—one of the world’s most powerful projectors for its size. It’s the only 50K that is self-contained. Any other projectors would need a separate cooling system and machinery.”

Lenses for most part were straight conventional throw, he says, decently wide for a throw about 100 to maybe 150 feet; naturally there was stacking and edge-blending.

Show Imaging brought in disguise servers to manage the image distribution and up-rez as needed; servers were installed locally for each projector site. “Our projectors are able to dial down to the granular level of color,” Duffy says. “For example, Refik Anadol’s work was very color driven—colors have specific meanings—so that was very important, just as it is for brands that have to replicate exact colors. We can manipulate as needed through the projector output.

“I wish that each artist would have had time to create the content with the projectors in mind—usually it’s the other way around,” Duffy explains. For LUMINEX there were less than 24 hours and only so many without daylight to tune the colors.

Despite it’s high impact, the production was actually on a tight non-profit budget. “If money wasn’t a factor,” Duffy says, “we would have had separate projectionists for each of the sites.” Instead, the team relied on software and hardware to reduce the amount of time setting the warp blend, color adjustments, etc., working remotely from a laptop.

The event came at an important time for the city and for live events. “It was literally and figuratively a way to shine a light back on Los Angeles,” Duffy says. “The City of Los Angeles reviewed it and deemed it a safe way to conduct an art exhibit. We really wanted to be a part of it. It was a kind of love letter to the city because of what we’ve all collectively gone through for over a year.

“Live events are extremely important to us and it always will be.

This year was a shock to everything in terms of how much we would have to adapt. We all did a lot with this and that says a lot for the technology and the artists. But I think it’s clear that in-person can never—and will never—be directly replaced.”

LUMINEX: Dialogues of Light was curated by Carmen Zella of NOWArt. The artwork was installed into the South Park neighborhood just east of the Staples Center.

REFIK ANADOL, WIND OF LOS ANGELES

The data-driven projection whiz interpreted the invisible patterns of wind into sculptures projected onto the facade of the Desmond building on Hope St., driving the colors and pattern with the underlying reality of wind.

NANCY BAKER CAHILL, HOLLOW POINT 101

The founder of AR platform 4th Wall crafted a piece designed to encapsulate our current moment of high-impact shattering in terms of culture, politics and the environment.

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SARAH RARA, PERFECT TOUCH 202

CAROLE KIM, A VOID A VOID

LUCIANA ABAIT, AGUA

AKIKO YAMASHITA, FOREST PERCEPTION

The multi-disciplinary artist spanned the north and south walls of a building with an installation that speaks to connecting divisions.

The climate change-focused mixed-media artist adapted the floodmyth motif into a healing video piece that combined clips of water from around the world.

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The video projection artist used the two inlets of the old Morrison Hotel to explore loss, isolation, and communication.

The projection-mapping specialist created a life-size forest on the north and south walls of the building on Olive St.—one side focused on the roots, the other looking down from the canopy.

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

TRANSPARENT STORYTELLING

ased in New York City, Columbia Property Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with expertise in transactions, asset management and repositioning, leasing, development and property management. The company focuses on creating value through owning, operating and developing Class-A office buildings in gateway U.S. markets—primarily New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Boston. The majority of Columbia’s portfolio is both LEED- and ENERGY STAR-certified.

Columbia recently relocated its headquarters to a full floor in a Manhattan office building that the company had purchased and renovated.

Ahead of that move, Amy Tabb, executive vice president of business development and innovation for Columbia, led the effort to ensure that the design of the new space reflected Columbia’s culture and strategic initiatives.

“New York is where our strategic business decisions are made and where many of our relationships are forged,” Tabb says. “We interact with many different people and groups here, from tenants and investment professionals to construction contractors and architects. It was important that we also demonstrated this reach.”

Tabb engaged Rachel Casanova of Cushman & Wakefield to translate intention into conversations with the architect. Casanova, in turn, introduced her to Tessellate Studio—an integrated architectural, exhibit and experience designer—to help Columbia create a unique visual showcase in the new office environment.

Working with Tabb and Columbia Property Trust CEO Nelson Mills, the Tessellate Studio team, led by Co-Founder and President Emily Con-

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rad, developed a range of design concepts for engaging visitors at the headquarters’ moment of entry. The team unanimously favored involved combining transparent display technology with physical designs to create a unique brand narrative experience.

The finalized project features three Planar LookThru Transparent OLED displays integrated with a custom millwork exhibit, creating a digital surface that overlays objects behind it. The three-dimensional canvas provides a compelling medium for authentic storytelling, according to Conrad.

“Applying technology to convey the mission of a company through artifacts has always been very interesting from a design perspective,” Conrad said. “And fortunately, a company like Columbia Property Trust has a lot of potential material to work with in terms of objects.”

Among the first presentations is an exhibit that highlights two types of architectural materials—cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue laminated timber (glulam)—that Columbia is using to develop the first mass timber building in Washington, D.C. Two more exhibits feature Columbia’s people and the priority the company places on relationships.

“We are doing creative things at our properties, and this display gives a unique and interesting way to showcase that, beyond just a video or just a display case,” Tabb says.

Installed by Sage AV with custom-built software from Tessellate Studio, the exhibit features seven media modes, including the ability to merge all three displays into a single, large canvas. “We can get large panoramic views and achieve the type of storytelling the client desired,” Conrad said. The project also meets Columbia’s requirement for a technology and design that would allow them to keep content fresh and current.

During the installation, Sage AV CEO Justin Schwartz worked with

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY Planar technicians to ensure the transparent OLED displays were integrated and aligned correctly.

“I’ve had a lot of great experiences working with Planar—they’re involved with every aspect of the design up through implementation,” Schwartz said. “With this use case, the company helped ensure that the new displays checked all of the boxes from a technical and aesthetical perspective.”

Coordination by Sage AV was also performed with Tessellate Studio’s developers to understand the technical implications for driving the displays and supplying content. “The displays and the color saturation they provide are phenomenal,” Conrad said. “But they still need to be integrated with the objects and the client narrative. So, it was important to optimize all aspects of what the hardware and software could do to make it come to life.”

Rachel Williams, vice president of marketing and communications for Columbia Property Trust, said the interplay between physical objects and technology allows them to tell their story in both a literal and effective way. “It also provides a unique channel to showcase our photography,” she said. “When viewing pictures with light and the depth of objects coming through, the imagery feels more vivid and alive.”

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DISPLAY SUPPLY CHAIN Analysis of Disruption Due to Component Shortage and High-Demand

By Cindy Davis

ased on Omdia’s Large Area Display Price Tracker, April 2021, Sanju Khatri, director of consulting for displays, ProAV and consumer devices at research and consultancy firm Omdia, provided some analysis on disruption in the display supply chain due to component shortage and high demand.

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Three distinct terms are used below. Components (display driver IC, glass, and polarizer), panel (raw LCD panels) and brands/finished sets/ device vendors (TV, monitor/laptops/ProAV vendors).

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Impact will be mostly felt on LCD technology, as strong demand and component shortage will lead to the following price cycles for LCD panels.

COMPONENT PRICE INCREASE (1Q21-2Q21)

y Strong consumer demand for TVs/IT displays. The “at home” trends are including work at home, learn at home, entertain at home, and shop at home. The LCD TV, Notebook, LCD monitor, and tablet PC products continue to have the strong demand thanks to the “at home” trends. y Brands, set makers, OEM, ODM, and retailers are all intending to fill up the pipeline in order to sell more. y TV brands and OEMs are continuously purchasing more panels (some are double-booking) to hit business targets.

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY y Display panel makers are increasing prices sharply to take the fast turnaround on profitability. The LCD TV open cell prices have been increasing by 40%-50% from June 2020 to December 2020. And it is expected there will be another 20% increase from January 2021 to May 2021. y Component shortage (Glass substrate, Display Driver IC, T-con, PMIC, Polarizer films) are frustrating the supply chain from time to time, making the set makers to be more nervous thus giving more orders. Three display components are especially tight in 2021, represented by “P.I.G.” y P: Polarizer, protective/release films, and surface treatment capacity are in tightness due to the production bottleneck and the retreat of the makers. However, the polarizer shortage is viewed as short term as the long-term polarizer supply is sufficient. y I: IC, Display Driver IC supply is expected to loosen from 2H21 however, limited foundry capacity and allocation competition with other IC applications may continue to complicate display panel shipments into the future. Even with the incremental display driver IC wafer foundry in the second half of 2021 (2H21), it is possible the wafer capacity allocation will be shifting to other

IC applications. y G: Glass substrate is in tightness due to the unexpected accidents that happened with suppliers from 4Q20 to 1Q21. The glass substrate shortage is viewed as short term but especially serious within these couple of months due to some accidents that happened in NEG and AGC. The recovery schedule is expected to take six months in Omdia’s estimation. In April 2021, there were also some yield rate challenges in glass tanks in Korea, which caused the short-term tightness in 2Q21. y 3Q and 4Q 2021 (stabilization of display panel price) y We expect panel prices to gradually flatten in 3Q21 as the “at home” boom cools down and the labor force return to work. y New display panel capacity in China gradually ramps up, and the incremental capacities from the expanded phases of the existing fabs. y The component shortage issues are gradually solved. New component capacities (glass tanks, wafer foundry) ramp up. y By the end of 4Q21, with the increased capacity and mitigation of the component shortage issues and display panel prices will gradually go down.

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Explore Together

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PRODUCTS

LG DIRECT VIEW LED ULTIMATE BUSINESS DISPLAY LG has created this DVLED display solution pre-configured in various sizes with fixed resolutions ranging from Full HD up to 8K Ultra HD. The bundle ships with all the components for both indoor and outdoor display options, including an LG intelligent controller.

The LG Ultimate Business Display comes in 25 size configurations from 81 inches to as large as 589 inches (49 feet) and aspect ratios in both 16:9 and 32:9 ultra-stretch formats.

The entire system ships in custom-designed, wheeled ATA flight cases so that everything arrives securely with no need for forklifts or pallet jacks to bring the display inside.

Included are the LG Direct View LED panels; 4K LG controller; 5% spare modules; spare boards and parts; and service tool (mounting brackets are separate).

These displays are supported with the LG webOS for GUI, remote control setup and automatic brightness adjustment.

They can screen share via Miracast and WiDi, carry 3.6GB of flash storage and an onboard CM for scheduling and playback. The bundle also includes training by live human, three-year warranty (five-year optional) and three years of after-the-sale support including ConnctedCare Solution software subscription, included health checks, and optional remote monitoring.

SONY CRYSTAL LED C- AND B-SERIES MICROLED In January Sony unveiled its latest innovation in premium direct view LED – the modular Crystal LED C-series (ZRD-C12A/C15A) with high contrast, and the B-series (ZRD-B12A/B15A) with high brightness. Both new displays are available in two pixel pitch sizes (P1.26mm and P1.58mm) to suit high-impact installation such as corporate showrooms, lobbies, and productions where it’s vital to accurately showcase content as the creator intended.

Both series are equipped with the “X1 for Crystal LED”, high-performance image quality processor. It fully incorporates the LED control technology developed for Sony’s Crystal LED and the signal processing technology in Sony’s BRAVIA TV series. Additionally, the displays enable image accuracy inspired

by Sony’s long legacy with reference monitors, providing highly realistic largescale imagery that maintains image integrity close-up and at a distance.

Sony’s proprietary Reality Creation supports high res upscaling, and Motionflow prevents motion blur. Proprietary 22bit Super Bit Mapping manages gradation; other features of the new displays include a wide viewing angle and wide color gamut, as well as a various input signals, including HDR, HFR (120fps) and 3D. For installation ease, each display is comprised of modular, seamless and bezel-free tiles that can scale to accommodate a range of sizes, layouts and resolutions. Due to the display’s lightweight and streamlined design, it can be installed in various configurations including wall-mounted or in a curved arrangement.

The Crystal LED C-series (top image) provides high contrast of 1,000,000:1. This series features a deep black coating optimized for a range of high impact installations.

The Crystal LED B-series (bottom image) offers high brightness (1,800 cd/m2) ideal for bright environments and large display applications. This series has an anti-reflection coating with a matte finish that is especially ideal for creators, designers and production applications including virtual sets and studio backdrops.

B-series was developed in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment to reflect the creator’s needs. Both monitors are fanless and feature a 100-240V AC power supply.

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PRODUCTS

HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

PLANAR DIRECTLIGHT ULTRA SERIES In June, Planar launched these premium fine pitch LED video wall displays that offer alwayson, high performance, high resolution display experiences at the finest pixel pitches from 0.6 to 0.9 millimeters for mission-critical and refined applications from control rooms to corporate lobbies, ideal for both close viewing and high-color, high-brightness applications.

Planar DirectLight Ultra Series features models with MicroLEDs, off-board power supply, proprietary alignment technology and the Planar WallDirector Video Controller (VC) with its corresponding video wall management software.

The series’ patent-pending self-adjusting module alignment technology also maintains perfect pixel alignment over time, combating issues such as vibration and thermal expansion.

Plus, Planar DirectLight Ultra Series LED displays implement technology that reduces light blockage and ambient light reflection, resulting in better blacks, higher dynamic range and enhanced dark content performance.

The Planar DirectLight Ultra Series also includes Planar Remote Power Supply, allowing customers to relocate heat, depth, noise, weight, service points, and electrical outlets away from the video wall and into a rack room. With the built-in video wall processing via the off-board controller and corresponding software, users can capture multiple 4K sources and arrange content windows while securely controlling and monitoring the video wall via user interface or leading room management systems.

The launch also introduces Planar DirectLight Ultra Complete, a line of pre-packaged LED video wall displays (in 108-inch, 136-inch and 163inch diagonal 4K resolution and 217-inch diagonal 8K resolution display sizes) that arrive complete with LED display cabinets, cables, spare modules, wall mounts as well as a video controller, remote power supply and remote control.

Front installation and installed depth of less than four inches increase flexibility.

Compliant with the United States’ Trade Agreements Act, Planar DirectLight Ultra Series LED video wall displays include the exclusive Planar EverCare Lifetime Limited Warranty.

ABSEN ACCLAIM PRO The A27 Pro MiniLED comprises the 1.27mm pixel pitch A2712 Pro and the 1.58mm pixel pitch A2715 Pro. Both have 600 nits brightness, a refresh rate of 1920-3840 Hz, and 14-bit color. Both are a standard size at 27.5” Absen’s Common Cathode technology claims RGB separate power supply, no external resistors, high precision voltage control, low heat dissipation and power consumption, higher LED lifespan and uniformity, and lower color shift at low brightness. The 4-in-1 integrated packaging brings adhesive power and pin tension to secure against cracking or knocking out LEDs. Front servicing eases installation and maintenance

CHIEF TILED Earlier this year, Chief announced white-glove direct view LED installation services for its Chief TiLED Video Wall Mounting System. The company says it recognizes risk mitigation is always top of mind when it comes to dvLED installations. From selecting displays and mounting systems to design configurations and securing skilled labor, and Legrand AV installation team provides the level of service needed. The TiLED Solution Services offers three levels of direct view LED support:Assisted Services puts the Legrand AV tech support team just a click away, with online access to spec and configuration tools like MountFinder and the TiLED LED Video Wall Configurator; Expanded Services offers personalized design consultation with Legrand AV sales, product management, and engineering professionals; Amplified Services includes startto-finish consultation including customized design, engineered solutions, and labor assistance.

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HIGH-IMPACT VIDEO DISPLAY

PRODUCTS

DELL ULTRASHARP 5K MONITOR Debuting at CES 2021 and receiving an Innovation Award there, the Dell UltraSharp 40 (U4021Q) claimed the spot of the world’s first 40-inch ultrawide curved monitor with a 5120×2160 resolution, also known as 5K2K or WUHD. With a 21:9 aspect ratio, the UltraSharp 40 is designed for users who want lots of screen real estate within a single display, but without compromising on resolution. A built-in Thunderbolt 3 port allows the UltraSharp 40 to be connected to a compatible Mac with a single cable; the monitor can power a MacBook Pro with up to 90W of passthrough charging.

Additional IO includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, three 10Gbps USB-A ports, one USB Type-B upstream port, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone/audio jack on the back of the monitor, plus one 15W USB-C port and another 10Gbps USB-A port on the bottom of the monitor for quick access. The UltraSharp 40 is 10-bit and covers 100% of the sRGB and 98% of the DCI-P3 color spaces, producing 1.07 billion colors.

Other specs include a fast 5ms response time, a 60Hz refresh rate, 2500R curvature, built-in KVM functionality, and integrated 9W speakers. A picture-in-picture mode allows the UltraSharp 40 to mimic two displays side by side, and “ComfortView Plus” feature reduces blue light.

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OPEN MIC

SOFTWARE MATTERS

By Tomer Mann, EVP at 22Miles

ystems contractors are still learning about and understanding all that digital signage can do. It’s no longer a novelty, but rather, a dynamic medium for information that creates an entertaining, immersive experience—and sometimes a steep learning curve for technicians to brave.

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As facilities welcome back employees and visitors, the latest advancements in digital signage and wayfinding technology are rising to meet the demand. Embracing digital signage in a way that benefits business can be overwhelming: No longer is a stagnant screen up to par with visitor expectations. With this in mind, customers are seeking robust solutions that offer user-friendly digital signage and wayfinding experiences. At the same time, AV managers are after partners that provide simple programming, customizable interfaces, and interoperable software. The standard uses of digital signage have shifted dramatically to focus on the visitor, aiming to create a one-of-a-kind experience in a competitive landscape.

Technology is changing fast, and it’s everywhere. Now, visitors and employees alike not only expect that signage will be on-demand for information and wayfinding, but also that it will be responsive and convenient to use. For technicians looking to upgrade existing AV environments with a digital focused experience, the right content management software can be the missing key. Immersive, custom experiences delivered through digital signage applications are immensely valuable for building brand equity and recognition, offering a “wow” factor that historically hasn’t been seen in signage.

Typically, when end users think of touch-based interaction, they picture a single touch screen that they can navigate like a tablet. While a few years ago this technology was innovative, AV manufacturers and integrators have leveled up the experience with new ways to interact. Custom signage with flexible content management platforms is growing in popularity as more companies implement AV technology that will both dazzle with design and provide meaningful information to guests.

With this, displays become full experience centers: from tablet and mobile devices carrying on-demand wayfinding apps to direct LED and video wall designs, experiential design implementations create that immersive experience while reducing reliance on some of the old school tools that typically occupy meeting spaces—

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whiteboards, “dumb” TVs, and more.

Indoor wayfinding has evolved dramatically from printed signs and maps to interactive kiosks. Now, with smartphones, the paradigm is shifting once more. There are more ways to interact with signage than ever before, from voice commands and gestures to traditional touch methods, and from new implementations like thermal scanning and virtual receptionists to completely connected mobile wayfinding. The AV no longer stops at the point of signage: users can interact, receive feedback, and then take the experience with them on their mobile phone.

Another feature making a splash for AV managers and systems contractors is room booking and hot desking, which provides a major assist in navigating and planning around facilities. With integrated room scheduling incorporated into wayfinding apps, AV managers can plan for space allocation and accommodate evolving safety measures, offer enhanced capabilities for room booking integration and design, wayfinding for the hoteling and hotdesking features, and more.

AV managers usually don’t want to spend extra time managing software, but they do need a CMS partner that can offer valuable consultation and customized solutions to best fit their needs. One of the most important considerations for implementing new software is compatibility—it’s essential to upgrade systems with software interoperable with the most popular, robust third-party APIs—from Crestron to BrightSign and from Mersive to Intel.

Post-install, the demand for simplicity and customization are in. With new drag and drop layouts and visual filter capabilities at their fingertips, brands can leverage the power of digital signage to communicate, entertain, and streamline navigation across facilities. This allows AV managers to customize the look and feel of every sign, kiosk, and video wall, creating a memorable and lasting experience for visitors, staff, and employees alike.

Digital signage and wayfinding technologies bring people together, communicate important messages, streamline operational costs and resources, and support efficiency. While the visitor experience itself is a highly personal process that managers can never fully control, systems contractors can grow the opportunities to entice and comfort guests with the latest advancements in content management, digital signage, and wayfinding technology.

Tomer Mann is EVP, 22Miles. As a veteran in the digital signage industry for more than ten years, Tomer strives to enhance visual communication consulting services to higher education, hospitality, retail, transportation, government, corporate, venues, healthcare, and other large organizations.